what’s The Porcelain Industry of Jingdezhen

The Porcelain Industry of Jingdezhen During the Five Dynasties Period

Archaeological excavations since the 1950s have revealed several Five Dynasties period (907-960 CE) kiln sites in Jingdezhen, including:

• Hutian Kiln (4km southeast of town)
• Shengmeiting Kiln (2km south of Hutian)
• Huangnitou Kiln (4km east of Hutian)
• Nanshijie Kiln (21km east of town)
• Shihuwan Kiln (about 10km from city center)
• Xianghujie Kiln (12km east of town)

Production Characteristics:

1. Main Products:
   • Gray-bodied celadon (closely resembling Yue ware)
   • White-bodied celadon
   • White porcelain (comparable to northern Xing ware)
     Common forms included bowls, plates, ewers, basins and washers, with bowls and plates being most prevalent.
2. Firing Technology:
   • Stacked firing with clay spacers:
     • Bowls were piled unglazed in stacks separated by high-fired kaolin-clay spacers
     • Loaded directly onto kiln beds without saggars
   • Spacers made from kaolin and porcelain stone mixture for better heat resistance
3. Quality Comparison:
   • Celadon closely imitated Yue ware, with some nearly identical pieces
   • White porcelain featured:
     • Dense, pure white body
     • Good translucency
     • Technical quality matching northern Xing/Ding wares

Historical Significance:

• Established foundation for:
  • Song Dynasty qingbai (bluish-white) ware
  • Yuan-Ming-Qing painted porcelain development
• Represented transitional phase:
  • While not yet equaling Yue celadon or Xing white porcelain refinement
  • Demonstrated early regional distinctive features